Washington, D.C. (October 16, 2003) - Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) announced today a House-Senate agreement that significantly increases disabled veterans’ entitlement to concurrent receipt. The measure allows qualifying vets access to greater amounts of military retired pay and Veterans Administration disability pay.
“Two years ago today, I was elected to the House of Representatives. The first piece of legislation I co-sponsored was H.R. 303, the Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2003,” Miller said. “I am very proud to announce this breakthrough for veterans in Northwest Florida and throughout the nation.”
Currently, disabled veterans’ retirement benefits are offset by the amount of disability coverage that they are eligible for. The Republican plan seeks to rectify that situation by phasing in disability qualifications that do not offset their retirement pay.
“I commend Congressman Miller’s role in making this happen,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “Every veteran in the first district of Florida should be thankful for Jeff’s hard work.”
“The Military Officers Association of America is grateful for the hard work put forth by members of the House Armed Services Committee on this issue,” said VAdm. Norb Ryan, USN (Ret.), president of MOAA, the nation's largest veterans organization for active duty and retired military officers. “We thank for them for their efforts and look forward to our continued work together on behalf of the nation's veterans.”
The Republican plan provides the following:
Blue Ribbon Commission
Ø Establishment of a 13-member, bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commission to review the current VA disability system and make recommendations to ensure the system adequately compensates veterans for disabilities they may incur as a result of their service.
Ø The White House and Congressional leaders will appoint commissioners - more than half of whom will be highly decorated combat veterans.
Purple Heart
Ø The House plan continues to provide FULL CONCURRENT RECEIPT to ALL PURPLE HEART VETERANS who are retired after 20 years and who have a VA disability rating of 10% - 100%.
Combat-Related Special Compensation
Ø Under current law, combat-related special compensation (CRSC) veterans 60% disabled and above have full concurrent receipt through the Republicans’ Purple Heart Plus plan for disabilities related to combat situations.
Ø The House plan expands FULL CONCURRENT RECEIPT to ALL CRSC veterans with a VA disability rating of 10% - 100%.
National Guard and Reservists
Ø Very few retired reservists and national guardsmen now qualify under current law for the Purple Heart or CRSC concurrent receipt.
Ø The House plan removes this barrier and extends FULL CONCURRENT RECEIPT to ALL RETIRED NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVISTS (10 - 100% disabled) who are Purple Heart recipients, or who are CRSC qualified.
Remaining Military Retirees
Ø Under current law, none of the remaining military retirees receive concurrent receipt.
Ø The House plan establishes FULL CONCURRENT RECEIPT to the most disabled military retirees 50% disabled and above (50 - 100% disabled).
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